Rhodes College running backs lead way as young quarterback gains experience

Running backs lead attack as young QB gains experience

As a sophomore last year, Rhodes College running back Dane Wilson came to the realization that he was pretty much a running back in name only.

As a member of the Lynx's pass-happy offense, Wilson knew his best chance at touching the ball was in a short-yardage situation. It was hard to argue that strategy when then-senior quarterback Brett Stoots was throwing for 2,048 yards and 14 touchdowns while receiver Jack Lartigue was hauling in 75 catches for 942 yards and nine touchdowns.

With Lartigue returning for his senior season and named a preseason, second-team All-American, Wilson expected much of the same this year. But through two games, the junior from Bartlett has been pleasantly surprised.

The former First Assembly Christian School player is leading the Southern Athletic Association in rushing, averaging 158 yards per game in helping Rhodes to a 2-0 record, one shy of last year's win total. Rhodes will look to make it 3-0 when it hosts Birmingham Southern at 1 p.m. Saturday.

"It's absolutely awesome for me," Wilson said. "It's a complete change from last year. Last year, we (the running backs) were just kind of there. Now, playing a bigger part definitely makes a big difference."

Second-year coach Dan Gritti has always said he'll use what works. The reason for shifting the offense's focal point from passing to running is twofold.

First, the Lynx return four sophomore linemen, all of whom played as freshmen last year. A year in the weight room is paying dividends.

Secondly, Rhodes is breaking in a new quarterback, freshman Blake Box from Austin, Texas. The success in the run game has allowed Gritti to bring Box along slowly rather than forcing him to make a lot of plays with his arm.

"We're really excited about the aspect of being able to run the ball so well," Gritti said. Wilson has 57 carries for 316 yards, an average of 5.5 per carry. He had a career-high 173 yards last week against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges. But it's not just Wilson's running that has made the Lynx so successful. His backup, freshman Kevin Vieira, has given Rhodes the top one-two punch in the league.

Vieira, a bruiser from Brooklyn, N.Y., is seventh in the SAA, averaging 74 yards a game. He is coming off a 98-yard effort on 17 rushes. Vieira said he's just happy to contribute this early in his career.

"That's every freshman's dream," he said. "No one wants to have to wait too long before they're able to contribute, so to be able to come in and contribute right away is a testament to good coaching, linemen and preparation over the summer trying to get ready for the season."

Wilson gives the Lynx an elusive back who is able to use his speed to break away from defenders. Vieira, on the other hand, has no problem simply running over would-be tacklers.

"It's a nice change of pace," Gritti said of the two runners. "It allows us to have some variance in how we do our run game."

Being able to run the ball doesn't mean Gritti has abandoned the passing game. The way he sees it, the Lynx will just be that much more dangerous as Box becomes more comfortable.

"I like the position we're in," Gritti said. "We're still on the rise. You have not seen the best of the Rhodes football team yet."